Engine starting apparatus



1,990Qo15 v Feb. 5, 1935. J, w. ALLEN ENGINE STARTING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 27, 1932 H 5 w 2 3 WA n v I 7 1 J 7 J m/ Z 7 J z w. Q Jo s A 2. z fl J J 0 M 2 1!; i U: 5 J m w a W L a a m J am 5 w M 2 E g Patented Feb. 5, 1935 1,990,015 ENGINE STARTING APPARATUS Joseph W. Allen, East Orange, N.

mesne assignments, to Eclipse Aviatio J assignor,

ration, East Orange, N. J a corporation of N Jersey Application September 27, 1932,

14 Claims. (Cl. 123-179) This invention relates to engine starting apparatus, and more particularly to starters for use with high compression and other large engines which present relatively heavy loads at the time of starting.

An object of the present invention is to provide a novel engine starter in which the driven member may be fully engaged with the rotatable member of the engine to be started without transmitting any load therebetween, and the full load may subsequently be gradually applied, so that the full faces of the engaged teeth may take the stress without distortion or breaking.

Another object is to provide an engine starter of the inertia type embodying a high speed flywheel of considerable mass and novel means including a combination of concentrically disposed clutches for transmitting the energy stored therein to the engine-engaging, or driven member without subjecting the starter mechanism to excessive stresses.

Another object of the invention is to provide an inertia starter embodying a novel form of radially acting one-way clutch between the driven member and the inertia member whereby little or no torque is transmitted therebetween until after the driven member has been moved into cranking engagement with the engine to be started.

Still another object is to provide a novel engine starter wherein the driven member may be moved into cranking engagement with the engine to be started at a time when the former is subject to little or no driving torque, the driving connection between said member and its source of energy being yieldingly effected after said movement has been completed, and by actuation of the same means as that causing the movement of the driving member.

A further object is to provide an engine starter which is rugged and strong enough, and of sufficient capacity, to start a large high compression engine in a dependable and efficient manner without requiring a structure of excessive size, weight or cost of manufacture.

These and other objects will appear more fully from a consideration of the detailed descriptionof the invention which follows. Although only one embodiment of the present invention is described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, it is to be expressly understood that the drawing is for the purpose of illustration only, and is not to-be construed as a definition of the limits of the invention, reference being purpose to the appended claims.

had for this.

In the drawing,

n Corpo- Serial No. 635,123

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal or axial sectional view of one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 2-'-2 of Fig.

1; and

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view in detail showing certain of the parts shown in Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing there is disclosed a combined hand and power a conventional inertia type.

actuated starter of As shown, the starter includes a flywheel 2 constituting the inertia element, and an engine-engaging clutch element 3 which is movable into driving engagement with a corresponding clutch member 4' provided on or connecting with the crankshaft or crankshaft extension of the engine to be started. The mechanism is housed within a suitable casing constituted by an inner section and '7, and a motor 5, intermediate sections 6 casing 8, the sections being removably secured together in any suitable manner, and the inner section being provided with a flange 9 to facilitate the amount of the starter on the engine crankcase, or in any other suitable location.

The manually operable means for actuating the starter preferably ta kes the form of a cranking shaft 10 rotatably mounted in intermediate housing section 6, with jecting from said housing,

the outer end thereof proand provided at its inner end with suitable means, such as a bevel pinion 11, for ilar pinion 12 integral extension of meshing engagement with a simkeyed to a shaft 13 constituting an the closed end of barrel 30.

The said shaft 13 is further provided with a bushing 14 on which is rotatably mounted the hub of an internally toothed gear 15 coaxially disposed with respect to the flywheel 2, and adapted to mesh with a pinion 16 made integral with a bell shaped member 17 provided at its opposite end with a skirt or flange constituting a spur gear 18 adapted to mesh with a pinion 19,

the latter being preferably integral with a stub shaft 20 to which the flywheel 2 is rigidly secured by suitable means,

such as the key shown at 21.

This stub shaft 20 is rotatably supported, as by ball bearings 22, in a suitable hub on a wall 23 extending across the section 6 of the starter casing. The bell-shaped member 1'! isin turn rotatably supported, as by means of a stub shaft 25, bearings 26 and 2'7, in a compound boss 28 formed .on wall .23.

The gear 15 is pro an integrally formed vided centrally thereof with pinion 50 which constitutes the sun gear for a plurality of planetary gears 51, one of which is shown in section .ing, and one in eleva inthe drawtion. These planetary gears 51, of which three are preferably employed, spaced at intervals of one hundred and twenty degrees about the sun gear 50, mesh with an internally toothed ring 52 which is rigidly secured in any suitable manner to the inner surface of housing section 5. Each planetary gear is rotatably mounted, as by a bearing 53, on a sleeve 54, the inner end of each sleeve being countersunk in the outer face of the closed end of barrel 30, into which extend screws 55. Barrel 30 is also preferably mounted on bearings, as shown at 56 and 57, the former being held in position by flange 58 of the barrel, and the latter by nut 59 and clamp 61 secured thereto, and also to the barrel, as indicated at 62. A retaining ring 66 carried by the outer end of each screw 55 maintains bearings 53 in their proper positions on sleeves 54,

A multiple disc clutch is preferably provided in association with the barrel 30 to insure relative rotary movement between the engine engaging member and the train of gearing above described, whereby the latter is protected from damage due to an excessive shock or load. As shown, the disc clutch comprises a plurality of inter-leaving discs 79, alternately splined to the inner surface of the barrel 30, and the outer surface of a shell 80 constituting the outer'race of the novel radially acting clutch to be further described. Resilient means, such asa plurality of coiled compression springs 81, the pressure of which is adjustable by a nut 82 threadedly engaging the end 83 of the barrel, are provided to press upon a flange 85 on member 80,} and thus maintain the discs 79 in frictional engagement with a pressure sufficient to insure transmission of torque from barrel 30 to shell 80, up to a predetermined capacity.

As shown best in Figs. 2 and. 3, the novel radially acting clutch includes a plurality of rollers 101 disposed with their axes in parallelism and equally spaced from a central axis coinciding with the axis of rotation of the barrel 30, the

rollers being loosely linked by the provision of an encircling spring 102 which is under a suitable initial tension and is provided with kinked portions 103 engaging the reduced ends 104 of the different rollers and acting to normally hold said rollers out of physical contact with the inner circumference of the outer race above referred to. In this normal position the rollers are in contact with the inner race 107 which are preferably in the form of a cylindrical tube or shell splined at one end as indicated at 108 in Fig. 1, for operative engagement with corresponding splines formed on the inner circumference of the rearwardly extending rim 109 of the engine engaging member 3.

At positions adjacent both ends of the rollers 101 the inner race 107 is apertured, the apertures corresponding in number and radial disposition to the number and radial disposition of said rollers 101. Through each aperture there projects a plunger 111, the outer face of which slopes away from a true circular contour, as indicated at 112, in Fig. 2, and their inner faces being bevelled to correspond to the inclination, with respect to the longitudinal axis, of the flares 114 on a thin cylindrical shell 116, said shell being mounted on an actuating rod 117 in the manner indicated in Figs. 1 and 3.

Rod 117 is axially movable to a limited extent preferably by the means normally employed in inertia starters for actuating the clutch meshing rod; Such means may include the usual shifter fork as shown at 119 in Fig. I, mounted on the usual transversely disposed pin 121 oscillated by a suitable lever or bell crank as indicated at 122, and corresponding to that shown at 55 in the Patent No. 1,786,118 granted to Raymond P. Lansing on December 23, 1930.

As shown best in Fig. 1 the forward end of the actuating rod 117 is eounterbored to receive a pin 124 which is adjustably connected to the engine engaging member 3 as indicated at 126, and is surrounded by a coiled compression spring 127', one end of which abuts the transversely disposed wall of the engine engaging member 3 and the other end of which engages the forward end surfaces of ,the rod 117 and shell 116, and holds the latter against shoulder 118 of the rod.

Integrally formed on the inner race 107 of the novel clutch mechanism are projecting portions 129, located between successive rollers 101, the projections being so disposed as to provide pockets for the rollers 101 which pockets have their opposing faces disposed substantially in parallelism rather than radially, as indicated at 131 and 132 in Fig. 2, and their connecting surfaces 133 formed to correspond in section to the curvature of arcs described from points substantially removed from the axis of rotation of the clutch so as to cooperate with the inner surface of the outer race 80 in wedging the rollers 101 into position to constitute a positive drive from the said outer race 80 to the inner race 107, upon energization of the prime mover 8 to cause rotation of the outer race 80 in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig; 2; provided, however, the said rollers v101 have been moved outwardly by axial movement of the plunger actuating sleeve 116 in the manner above indicated. The members 107 and 80, with the rollers 101, thus constitute an over-running or one-way'clutcn, in the sense in which these terms are commonly employed.

Fitted over the inner end of the starter is a cup-shaped member 89 that is preferably formed of metal and is provided with a flange 91 adapted to be clamped between flange 9 of the starter housing, and the engine flange 92. The inner portion of member 89 is bent inwardly toward clutch member 3, as at 93, and is provided with a central opening which is slightly larger in diameter than the outer diameter of the clutch member 3.

In order to prevent seepage of oil through the central opening inmember 89, the latter preferably carries a washer 94 of leather or equivalent material. Normally the inner portion of washer 94 is held in engagement with the adjacent surface of the head of clutch member 3 by means of a metallic washer and a flanged sleeve 97 longitudinally grooved at one end. This sleeve 97 slidably surrounds and frictionally grips the outer cylindrical surface of the member 109 and is securely held to the cylindrical surface on the forward portion of the shell 80, the sleeve thus acting to rotate clutch member 3 with shell 80 prior to engagement with the engine member 4-that is, under conditions of negligible load..

In operation, the flywheel 2 is first accelerated through manual operation of the cranking shaft 10 or through energlzation of the prime mover 8, and when sufllcient energy has been stored in the flywheel by either of these methods, the rod 117 is caused to be shifted axially through the usual control means, not shown, connected with the lever 122. The first portion of the longitudinal movement of the rod 117 causes forward movement of the engine engaging member 3 into driving contact with the engine member 4, the forward movemen being transmitted through the intervening compression spring 127, the latter being yieldable to a certain extent in the event of contact between the respective teeth of the members 3 and 4. It will be noted, however, that such contact can be but momentary since the friction sleeve 97 functions to insure sufficient rotation of the engine engaging member 3 to relieve any abutting of the inclined teeth.

At the time the members 3 and 4 are wholly meshed, the forward movement of the sleeve 116 will have moved the plungers 111 outwardly sufficiently to cause physical contact of the rollers 101 with the inner surface of the outer race 80. When this is accomplished, the rollers are promptly forced into the, narrowest portions of the pockets in which they are disposed, and in such position are wedged by the driving action of the outer race with respect to the inner race. Torque is thus transmitted up to the predetermined maximum as determined by the setting of the friction clutch '79, the drive being from the outer race 80 to the inner race 10'? and thence through the splined connection 109 to the clutch 3 and the engine member 4.

As soon as the cranking action thus exerted on the engine crankshaft enables the engine to become self-sustaining in operation, the inner race 10'! "over-runs the rollers 101 and outer race 80; and the inclination of the clutch teeth is such that the member 3 is thrown rearwardly to its normal position as indicated in Fig. 1. Simultaneously therewith, or thereabouts, the usual spring means (not shown but corresponding to that shown at 67 in the aforesaid Lansing patent) is effective to return the rod 117 to the inoperative position shown in Fig. 1, the said spring also acting through the nut 126 to hold the engine engaging member 3 retracted. When this occurs, the encircling spring 102 is effective to return the rollers 101 and plungers 111 to the normal positions indicated in Figs. 2 and 3, and the parts are now ready for a second performance of their intended functions when it is again necessary to start the engine.

While it is obvious from the foregoing that the embodiment herein disclosed possesses practical merit, it is to be understood that this embodiment is not exclusive of others which may incorporate the novel provisions herein disclosed and claimed and which will be suggested to persons skilled in the art on an examination of the foregoing description and the accompanying drawing.

It is to be understood therefore that various changes may be made in the construction, arrangement and inter-relation of the parts entering into the invention without departing from the spirit thereof, the extent of the included variations being ascertainable by reference to the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an engine starting apparatus, the combination of a driven member adapted to be moved into engagement with and to crank a member of an engine to be started, means including a rod extending through said driven member for moving said driven member into engagement with the engine member, means for driving said driven member including a one-way clutch surrounding said rod and normally ineffective, and means interposed between said rod and clutch for engaging said'clutch to render it effective only after said driven member has been moved into engagement with the engine member.

2. In an engine starter, a driven member adapted to be moved into cranking engagement with a member of the engine to be started, means for driving said driven member including a one-way clutch coaxial therewith and normally in'efiective, and common means extending through said clutch for moving said driven member into cranking engagement and for engaging said clutch prior to any rotation of said driven member.

3. In an engine starter, a driven member adapted to be moved into cranking engagement with a member of the engine to be started, means for driving said driven member including a oneway clutch coaxial therewith and normally ineffective, means for moving said driven, member into cranking engagement with the engine member under no-load conditions, means for engaging said clutch, thereby applying full load to the driven member, and means extending through said clutch for mechanically interrelating the operation of both of said two last mentioned means.

4. In an engine starter, a driven member adapt-.- ed to be moved into cranking engagement with a member of the engine to be started, a driving member in axial alignment with said driven member, means for drivably connectingsaid driving and driven members including a one-way clutch normally ineffective, and means extending through said clutch for first moving said driven member toward cranking engagement and by a continuation of the same action engaging said clutch.

5. In an engine starter, a driven member adapted to be moved into cranking engagement with a member of the engine to be started, a driving member in axial alignment with said driven member, means for drivably connecting said driving and driven members including a oneway clutch normally ineifective, means for moving said driven member into cranking engagement with the engine member under no-load conditions, means for engaging said clutch, thereby applying full load to the driven member, and means extending through said clutch for mechanically interrelating the operation of said two last mentioned means.

6. In an engine starter, a driven member adapted to be moved into cranking engagement with a member of the engine to be started, a driving member in axial alignment with said driven member, means for drivably connecting said driving and driven members including a pair of concentrically disposed clutch mechanisms in which the inner race of one clutch constitutes the outer race of the second, means for moving said driven member into cranking engagement with the engine member under no load conditions, means for engaging said second named clutch,

thereby applying full load to the driven member outer race of the second,' said first named clutch including frictionally engaged parts capable of relative movement under excessive load and said second clutch including'positively engaging parts capable of transmitting torque in one direction only, means for moving said driven member into cranking engagement with the engine member under no-load conditions, means for engaging said second named clutch, thereby applying full load to the driven member, and means extending through said clutch for mechanically interrelating the operation of said two last mentioned means.

8. In an engine starter, a driven member adapted to be moved into cranking engagement with a member of the engine to be started, a driving member in axial alignment with said driven member, means including a limited torque clutch drivably connecting said members, a oneway driving connection interposed between said torque limiting clutch and driven member and including inner and outer races and a plurality of rollers adapted to be driven by said inner race during the starting operation and to rotate free of said inner race'as soon as the engine, has been started, and means associated with but operating independently of any movement of said driving member for moving said driven member into cranking engagement and by' the same action moving said rollers into engagement with said inner race, thereby placing said clutch in.

position to transmit torque from the to the driven member.

9. In an engine. starter, a driven member adapted to be moved into cranking engagement with a member of the engine to be started, a driving member, means including a limited torque clutch drivably connecting-said members, a one-way driving connection interposed between said torque limiting clutch and driven member and including inner and "outer races and a plurality or rollers adapted to be driven by the inner race of said torque limiting clutch during the starting operation and to rotate free of said inner race as soon as the engine has been started, and common means for moving said driven member into cranking engagement and by the same action moving said rollers into engagement with said inner race, said last named means including an axially movable part operatively connected with said driven member, and cam mechanism movable with said axially movable, part to operatively connect said rollers with said inner race.

10.In an engine starter, a driven member adapted to be moved-intq cranking engagement with a member of the engine to be started, a driving member in axial alignment with said driven member, means including a friction clutch drivably connecting said members, a one-way driving connection interposed between said 1110- tion clutch and driven member and including inner and outer races and a plurality of rollers adapted to be driven by said inner race during the starting operation and to rotate free of said inner race as soon as the engine has been started, and means associated with but operating independently of any movement of said driving member for moving said driven member into cranking engagement and by the same action moving said rollers into engagement with said inner race, thereby placing said clutch in position to transmit torque from the driving to the driven member.

11. In an engine starter, a driven member adapted to be moved into cranking engagement with a member of the engine to be started, a driving member in axial alignment with said driven member, means including a friction clutch drivably connecting said members, a one-way driving connection interposed between said friction clutch and driven member and including inner and outer races and a plurality of rollers adapted to be driven by said inner race during the starting operation and to rotate free of said inner 'race as soon as the engine has been started, and means associated with but operating independently of any mpvement of said driving member for moving said driven member into cranking engagement and by the same action moving said rollers into engagement with said inner race, said last named means including a member movable along the ,common axis of rotation of both said clutches, thereby placing said clutch in position to transmit torque from the driving to the driven member.

12. In an engine starter, a driven member adapted to be moved into cranking engagement with a member of the-engine to be started, a driving member, means including a friction clutch drivably connecting said members, a oneway driving connection interposed between said friction clutch and driven member and including inner and outer races and a plurality of rollers adapted to be driven by the inner race of said friction clutch during the starting operation and to rotate free of said 'irmer race as soon as the moving said driven member into cranking engagement and by the same action moving said rollers into engagement with said inner race, said last named means including an axially movable part operatively connected with said driven member and cam mechanism movable with said axially movable part to operatively connect said rollers with said inner-race.

13. In an engine starter, a driven member adapted to be moved into cranking engagement with a member of theengine to be started, a driving member, means for drivably connecting said driving and driven members including a oneway clutch normally ineffective, and means extending through said clutch for first moving said driven member toward cranking engagement and by a continuation of the same action engaging said one-way clutch.

14. In an engine starter, a driven member adapted to be moved into cranking engagement with a member of the engine to be started, a driving member, means for drivably connecting said driving and driven members including a oneway clutch normally inefl'ective, and means associated with but operating independently of said driving member, for first moving said driven member toward cranking engagement and by a continuation of the same action engaging said 

